Fitness Industry in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Minimizing the Risk

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to examine the precautions taken globally for risk management practices in the fitness industry in the COVID-19 pandemic, with their reasons. At the beginning of the pandemic, the fitness sector was completely closed at first. With the reopening of the facilities, some individuals continued to exercise at their facilities for various reasons. However, the thought of exercising indoors during the pandemic period has brought along the discussion of the risk of transmission of the virus. In this context, a number of guidelines have been established in order to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission for the fitness industry, both globally and nationwide. The World Health Organization and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention led the industry in creating these guidelines. According to the guidelines of these organizations, the precautions to be taken in the pandemic in health and fitness facilities are "screening practices for employees and clients", "person to person contact", "reception area", "exercise area", "locker rooms and restrooms", "ventilation and air filtration”, “cleaning and hygiene”. The fitness industry, whose growth rate is constantly increasing before the pandemic, has to meet these guidelines for the long-term stability and sustainability of the business, to compensate for the losses it has experienced in the COVID-19 pandemic, to increase member participation. In summary, the fitness industry, which already has different obligations in terms of service quality, must keep up with the changing business conditions and consumer behaviors with the pandemic.

Keywords

• Fitness industry
• Fitness facilities
• COVID-19
• Risk management

COVID-19 Pandemisinde Fitness Sektörü: Riskin En Aza İndirilmesi

Abstract

Bu derleme çalışmanın amacı, COVID-19 pandemisinde fitness sektöründe risk yönetimi açısından alınan küresel tedbirleri nedenleriyle birlikte incelemektir. COVID-19 pandemisi ve yasakları ile küresel çapta etkilenen sektörlerden birisi de fitness sektörüdür. Bu etkiler sağlık ve fitness tesislerinde ciddi ekonomik kayıplar, birçok işletmenin iflasını açıklaması, çalışan iş kaybı ve fiziksel aktiviteden uzaklaşan insanlar şeklinde sıralanabilir. Fitness sektörü pandeminin seyrine göre ilk zamanlar tamamen kapatılmış daha sonra bazı kısıtlamalar ile varlğını sürdümeye çalışmıştır. Bu süreç içinde bazı insanlar hareketsizlikle başa çıkmak, bağışıklık sistemini iyileştirmek, sosyalleşmek veya yaşam alışkanlığını korumak gibi amaçlarla sağlık ve fitness tesislerinde egzersiz yapmaya devam etmiştir. Ancak pandemi döneminde kapalı alanlarda egzersiz yapma düşüncesi, virüsün bulaşma riski tartışmalarını da beraberinde getirmiştir. Bu kapsamda gerek küresel gerekse ülke çapında fitness sektörüne yönelik COVID-19 bulaşma riskinin en aza indirilmesi amacıyla birtakım yönergeler oluşturulmuştur. Bu yönergelerin oluşturulmasında Dünya Sağlık Örgütü ve Amerika Birleşik Devleti Hastalık Önleme ve Kontrol Merkezi sektöre öncülük etmiştir. Bu kuruluşların yönergeleri incelendiğinde, sağlık ve fitness tesislerinde COVID-19 pandemisinde alınması gereken önlemlerin “çalışanlar ve üyeler için tarama uygulamaları”, “kişilerin birbiriyle teması”, “resepsiyon alanı”, “egzersiz alanı”, “soyunma odaları ve tuvaletler”, “havalandırma ve hava filtrasyonu”, “temizlik ve hijyen” başlıkları altında toplandığı görülmektedir. Pandemi öncesi büyüme hızı sürekli artan fitness sektörü, COVID-19 pandemisinde yaşadığı kayıpları gidermek, üye katılımını artırmak ve işletmenin uzun vadeli istikrarı ve sürdürülebilirliği için bu yönergeleri yerine getirmek zorundadır. Özetle, hâlihazırda hizmet kalitesi açısından farklı yükümlülükleri olan fitness sektörü, pandemi ile değişen işletme koşulları ve tüketici davranışlarına ayak uydurmalıdır.

Keywords

• Fitness sektörü
• Fitness tesisleri
• COVID-19
• Risk yönetimi

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